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There is nothing I dread so much as the division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our constitution.

John Adams

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John Adams
Age: 90 †
Born: 1735
Born: October 19
Died: 1826
Died: July 4
2Nd U.S. President
Diplomat
Lawyer
Political Philosopher
Politician
Statesperson
Braintree
Massachusetts
President Adams
J. Adams
President John Adams
Humble
Arranged
Government
Apprehension
Nothing
Constitution
Measures
Great
Leader
Dread
Much
Greatest
Division
Party
Parties
Evil
Republic
Political
Opposition
Dreaded
Two

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Mr. Jefferson has reason to reflect upon himself. How he will get rid of his remorse in his retirement, I know not. He must know that he leaves the government infinitely worse than he found it, and that from his own error or ignorance.
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I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation.
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Power must never be trusted without a check.
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This is my religion ... joy and exaltation in my own existence ... so go ahead and snarl ... bite ... howl, you Calvinistic divines and all you who say I am no Christian. I say you are not Christian.
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Set before us the conduct of our own British ancestors, who defended for us the inherent rights of mankind against foreign and domestic tyrants and usurpers, against arbitrary kings and cruel priests in short against the gates of earth and hell.
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When people talk of the freedom of writing, speaking or thinking I cannot choose but laugh. No such thing ever existed. No such thing now exists but I hope it will exist. But it must be hundreds of years after you and I shall write and speak no more.
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They shall not be expected to acknowledge us until we have acknowledged ourselves.
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We electors have an important constitutional power placed in our hands we have a check upon two branches of the legislature.
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The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries.
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Yesterday, the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that those United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.
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Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
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The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity
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Honor is truly sacred, but holds a lower rank in the scale of moral excellence than virtue. Indeed the former is part of the latter, and consequently has not equal pretensions to support a frame of government productive of human happiness.
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Power in any Form . . . when directed only by human Wisdom and Benevolence is dangerous.
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Shall we have recourse to the art of printing? But this has not destroyed property or aristocracy or corporations or paper wealth in England or America, or diminished the influence of either on the contrary, it has multiplied aristocracy and diminished democracy.
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Whenever serious art loses track of its roots in the vernacular, then it begins to atrophy.
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If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable it is when it springs, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information and benevolence.
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Grief drives men into habits of serious reflection, sharpens the understanding, and softens the heart
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Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.
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There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.
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